Question About Smoking

Meco · New User Joined: 12 Aug 2005 Posts: 1

Okay, so I am 19 years of age and have currently decided to drop smoking. I have been smoking since the age of 14 often on. I stopped for about 2 years then picked it back up late last year (dumb, I know), but I'm just curious as to what the earliest age to catch cancer from smoking can be, just out of curiousity. I haven't really ever heard of any kids my age passing away from smoking and getting lung cancer from it. I guess the feeling that I could have cancer right now from my few years of smoking without my awareness is bothering me a bit. Even the fact that it could be developing inside me bugs me. This was part of the reason I have decided to stop. Sorry for the naive questions, but I'm really clueless when it comes to this department. Anything feedback would be greatly appriciated. Thanks.

dizzybuff38 · Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:19 pm Post subject: stopping smoking

Just do it NOW! My husband has peripheral vascular disease caused by many years of smoking. He cannot now walk more than 30 yds and this impacts on our whole lifestyle.
Liz.

pathos · New User Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 8

I hope you understand this and if not ask.
For cancer to occur you need to things to happen. 1. you need to have some agent act on DNA and cause mutations. 2. you need to have some reason for the cells to devide so that the mutation can be passed on/remebered.

Over time more mutations accumulate til growth control is most and you have cancer.

Now with regard to smoking, the smoke has agents from the partial combustion of tobacco that will mutate the DNA of cells such as epoxides. Also the smoke will cause inflamation which brings in specials cells to clean up which may cause more DNA damage. With the inflamation, comes signals for cells to devide to heal what damage the smoke causes. OVER MANY YEARS, the mutations get great enough that cancer occurs.

So it is unlikely that smoking a few years will cause cnacer. The increase in risk over not smoking is "probably" not that great. But the down side is you started smoking early and many cells where still developing in your airways/lungs which mean many of the developed cells have mutations. The best thing youu can do is NOT SMOKE ANY MORE and do not worry about the increased risk because it is probably small. The more you smoke, the more likely cancer will eventually occur. Alternatively you will end up with beathing/ cardiac problems.

Just do not smoke and all will be fine

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

Smoking will keep your risk of developing cancer for many years. So regardless of the notion that you probably won't have cancer right away, the more you smoke now, the higher your chance of developing cancer many years down the road.

best regards,
Leo
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Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

SFGiants13 · Senior User Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 120 Location: CA SF

good idea that you stop and stop for good. A close family friend who used to smoke packs of cigs daily has lung cancer and there is no cure for helping him. However, he's been off smoking for I suppose 10+ yrs except the cancer is still there but it's dormant. The doctors said he has a yr or two but that was yrs ago and he's still alive. How he's beating the cancer is by running 8 miles every day. Just say no to smoking ahd don't give up the hope.

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